Turbine construction



w. E. BEANEY 3,044,837

TURBINE CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 3. 1959 July 17, 1962 INVE-NTOR. MATE/QE. BEANEY BY M9 A TTORNEYS United States Patent Ofitice 'Patented July17, 1962 3,044,837 TURBINE CONSTRUCTION 7 Walter E. Beaney, New London,(301111., assignor to The Whiton Machine Company, New London, Conn., acorporation of Connecticut Filed Sept. 3, 1959, Ser. No. 837,816 1Claim. (Cl. 308-364) This invention relates to turbines and, moreparticularly, to turbines utilizing superheated steam as a propellant.

In steam turbines of conventional construction, the turbine shaft isusually supported by one bearing located in or near the turbine chamberand subjected to the high temperatures of the superheated propellentsteam and by one or more additional bearings isolated from thepropellent steam and subjected to much lower temperatures. Due toexcessive differences in the environmental temperatures of the supportbearings, considerable difficulty with the bearings is encountered andunacceptable shaft runout may be a serious problem.

lI't is the general object of the present invention to provide a turbineconstruction wherein all of the bearings which support the turbine shaftare isolated from the propellent steam and are in turn supported by asingle member clamped between two sections of the turbine housing.

The drawing shows a preferred embodiment of the invention and suchembodiment will be described, but it will be understood that variouschanges may be made from the construction disclosed, and that thedrawing and description are not to be construed as defining or limitingthe scope of the invention, the claim forming a part of thisspecification being relied upon for that purpose.

The single FIGURE of the drawing is a side elevation partially insection of a steam turbine embodying the invention.

The steam turbine shown in the drawing is of the verti cal type and isparticularly adapted for shipboard installation and for use in driving afeed pump for a steam boiler. The invention, however, is not to beconstrued as limited to turbines of this or other specific types. Anupright turbine housing indicated generally at 10 encloses a turbinerotor 12 and a shaft 14. The shaft 14 extends substantially verticallywithin the housing 10 and the rotor 12 is mounted on an upper endportion thereof for substantially horizontal rotation in a turbinechamber 16.

In accordance with the invention, the turbine housing 10 is ofmulti-section construction and comprises upper and lower sections 18 and20. 'The upper housing section 18 is generally cylindrical in form andthe aforementioned turbine chamber 16 is defined therewithin. Atransverse partition 22 is preferably provided in the housing section 18between the upper and lower ends thereof and said partition has acentral opening or aperture 24. The substantially vertical turbine shaft14 extends upwardly through the opening or aperture 24 in the partition22 and supports the turbine rotor 12 in the chamber 16, the said chamberbeing defined above the partition 22 when said partition is provided asdescribed.

The turbine chamber 16 is further defined by a cover or end plate 26secured to the upper end of the upper housing section 18 by suitablescrews 28, 28. A passageway 30 formed in an integral extension 32 of thecover plate 26 is adapted to receive a supply of propellent steam, saidextension 32 being provided with a flange 34 for connection with asuitable steam supply conduit (not shown). Communicating with thepassageway 30 is a distributor passageway or chamber 36 whichcommunicates with and supplies the propellent steam to one or morenozzle supply passageways 38 (one shown); The nozzle supply passagewayor passageways 38 communicate with one or more suitable nozzles 40 (oneshown) formed in a partially circular nozzle ring or plate 42, saidplate being substantially less than 360 in length and being secured tothe cover 26 by suitable screws 44, 44. The nozzle or nozzles 40 in theplate 42 direct the propellent steam against a first set of rotor blades46, the steam thereafter passing through a set of stationary blades 48held by a partially circular support ring 49 and through a second set ofrotor blades 50. Spent steam discharged from the second set of rotorblades 50 passes upwardly in the space adjacent the ends of thepartially circular nozzle ring 42 and the partially circular supportring 49 and thence upwardly and outwardly from the housing mannerbetween the ends thereof and with bearing meansv therefor disposed onopposite sides of the rotor, an upper 4 bearing means being disposed inthe turbine chamber and a lower bearing means being disposed below saidchamber and isolated from the propellent steam. Instead, the turbinerotor 12 is rnountcd on the upper end portion of the shaft 14, asmentioned, and may be secured thereto by means of a suitable nut 54 anda key connec tion, a keyway 56 being shown in the said end portion ofthe shaft 14. As will be explained more fully 'hereinbelow, the shaft 14is rotatably supported by two vertically spaced bearing means disposedbelow the turbine rotor 12 and both of said bearing means are isolatedfrom the propellant steam in the turbine chamber 16. In consequence, theaforementioned detrimental effects of excessive difference in bearingenvironmental temperatures, usually encountered in vertical steamturbines of conventional construction, are avoided.

The lower portion 20 of the turbine housing 10 is shown as beinggenerally cylindrical in form and is provided at its upper end with aconnecting flange 58 which is secured by suitable screws 62, 62 to amating connecting flange 60 provided :at the lower end of the upperhousing section 18. A generally cylindrical and substantially flattransverse bearing support plate 64 has its peripheral portion securedby and between the connecting flanges 58' and 60 and is preferablysubstantially fiat as shown with an opening 66 formed centrally therein.The shaft 14 is received in the central opening 66 of the bearingsupport plate 64 and is rotatably supported by vertically spaced firstand second or upper and lower bearing means indicated generally at 68and 70 respectively. The upper and lower bearing means 68 and 70 aresupported by the plate 64 and are preferably disposed respectively aboveand below the said plate as shown. A sealing means 72 disposed above theupper bearing means 68 prevents the downward flow of propellent steamfrom the chamber 16 along therotor support shaft 14 whereby to providefor the isolation of both of the bearing means 68 and 70 from the steam.

' The sealing means 72 may take various forms within the scope of theinvention, but is shown as comprising a support ring 74 which isdisposed about the shaft 14 and secured to an annular member 75 onthepartition 22 by suitable screws 76 (one shown). The annular member 75is disposed within the aforesaid opening 24 in the partition 22 and maybe secured to said partition as by suitable welding. The ring 74 isprefer-ably of the segmented or split type and carries a series ofaxially spaced sealing rings 78, 78 which engage the shaft 14 to preventthe downward flow of steam therealong.

The upper bearing means 68 preferably comprises a first or uppergenerally cylindrical bearing support member which is of the axiallysplit or segmented type. The generally cylindrical member 80 is disposedabout the shaft 14 and is secured to the plate 64 at its lower end bysuitable screws '82 in an annular flange 84. A first or upper sleevebearing 86, which may be babbit lined and which is preferably of thesplit or segmented type, is secured within and supported by the member80 and engages the shaft 14 to rotatably support the same. A cover 88secured to the upper end of the member 80 by suitable screws 90 carriesa ring seal 92 which engages the shaft 14 to further insure against theintroduction of steam downwardly to the region adjacent the sleevehearing 86. Any steam condensate leaking downwardly through the sealingmeans 72 is dispersed outwardly and and away from the bearing means 68by a slinger 94 fixedly connected to the shaft 14 above the cover 88 ofsaid bearing means.

The lower bearing means 70 preferably comprises a second or lowergenerally cylindrical bearing support member 96 which is also of thesplit or segmented type. As shown, the said member comprises a firstpart 98 which has a cylindrical upper portion 98a and an integrallyformed partially cylindrical lower portion 98b. A second part 100 of thesupport member 96 is partially cylindrical and is adapted to be securedto the lower portion 98b of the part 98 by means of suitable screws orthe like not shown. The upper end of the part 98 of .the support member96 may be rigidly secured to the support plate 64 as by suitable weldingat 102. Secured within and supported by the parts 98 and 100 of thesupport member 96 is a second or lower sleeve bearing 104 which may bebabbit lined and which is preferably of the segmented or split type. Thesaid bearing cooperates with the sleeve bearing 86 to rotatably supportthe turbine shaft 14.

There is preferably also provided within the lower support member 96thrust bearing means and said means are shown as comprising first andsecond or upper and lower thrust bearings 106 and 108. The thrustbearings 106 and 108 are preferably of the split or segmented type andare spaced axially and on opposite sides of a central portion 110 of thesleeve bearing 104. An upper thrust ring 112 is fixedly secured to theturbine shaft 14 as by means of a key connection, a keyway beingindicated at 114. Disposed beneath the thrust ring 112 and between thesaid ring and the upper thrust bearing 106 is a spacer ring 116 anddisposed above said thrust ring and between the same and a shoulder 118formed on the shaft 14 is a second spacer ring 120. The thrust ring 112cooperates with its associated spacer rings and with the upper thrustbearing 106 to prevent downward movement of the shaft 14. A second orlower thrust ring 122 is fixedly secured .to the shaft 14 as by asuitable key connection, a keyway being indicated at 124. Said ringengages the lower thrust bearing 108 and prevents upward movement of theshaft 14. Associated with the lower thrust ring 122 is a cap or cover126 carrying a ring seal 1 28 which extends around and engages thethrust ring 122. The cover or cap 126 is secured to the lower supportmember 96 as by means of suitable screws 130.

Lubrication of the bearings supporting the shaft 14 may be provided forin various ways within the scope of the invention. As shown, alubrication passageway 132 is provided and said passageway extendssubstantially vertically through the bearing support plate 64, upwardlyinto the upper support member 80, and downwardly in the part 98 of thelower support member 96. Connecting passageways 134 and 136 communicatewith the passageway 132 and respectively supply lubricating fluid to thesleeve bearings 86 and 104. A force lubrication system (not shown) maybe connected to the passageway 132 by a suitable supply passageway notshown.

Fixedly secured to the turbine shaft 14 below the lower thrust ring 122is a gear 138. The said gear is secured to the shaft by a nut 139 and akey connection, the keyway indicated at 124 being of sufiicient lengtsso as to be utilized for this purpose. A gear 140 meshes with and isdriven by the gear 138 and forms part of the control system for theturbine. Said control system forms no part of the present invention andis therefore not shown.

An oil slinger 142 is disposed beneath the gear 138 and its securing nut139 and above a partition 144 provided in the lower housing portion 20.The shaft 14 extends through a suitable aperture 146 in the partition144 and may be connected therebelow to a boiler feed pump or the like,an excess opening 148 being provided in the housing portion 20 beneaththe partition 144.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that a turbine constructionparticularly well adapted for the isolation of all of the shaft bearingsfrom the propellent steam in the turbine chamber has been provided. As aresult of such isolation of the bearings, the difference in bearingenvironmental temperatures may be reduced to a minimum and theaforementioned detrimental effects of excessive differences in suchtemperatures are avoided. All of the necessary bearings for the turbineshaft are supported from the transverse support plate 64 in the desiredpositions of isolation and a simplified arrangement of parts is thuspermitted.

As previously mentioned, the sealing means 72 as well as the upper andlower bearing means 68 and 70 comprise segmented or split elements. Inconsequence, the said sealing means and bearing means may beconveniently removed and replaced without disturbing the turbine shaft.To further facilitate the removal and replacement of the sealing and/orbearing means, access openings may be provided in both the upper andlower housing portions as indicated at 150 and 152.

The invention claimed is:

For use in a steam turbine having a vertical turbine shaft and turbineand bearing chambers in top to bottom order; a steam immune bearingassembly adapted for use in the bearing chamber and comprising agenerally cylin' drical and substantially flat transverse bearingsupport plate having a central portion provided with an opening forreceiving the turbine shaft, an upper generally cylindrical bearingsupport member fixedly connected with and supported by and above saidsupport plate about the shaft, an upper sleeve bearing carried by saidupper support member engaging the shaft and rotatably supporting thesame, a cover element fixedly secured to said upper support member andcarrying a ring seal engaging said turbine shaft, a steam condensateslinger element secured to the turbine shaft above said cover element, alower generally cylindrical bearing support member rigidly connectedwith and supported by and below said support plate about the shaft, alower sleeve hearing carried by said lower support member engaging androtatably sup porting said shaft, thrust bearing means carried by saidlower support member, upper and lower thrust rings fixedly connectedwith said shaft respectively above and below said thrust bearing meansand rotatable with the shaft in engagement with the said bearing meansto prevent axial shaft movement, and sealing means between said lowerbearing support member and the shaft below said thrust bearing means.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS779,771 iDodge Jan. 10, 1905 876,422 Zvonicek Jan. 14, 1908 972,327Brien 'Oct. 11, 1910 1,099,392 Norling June 9, 1914 1,477,360 JunggrenDec. 11, 1923 1,796,325 Flanders Mar. 17, 1931 2,095,128 Doran Oct. 5,1937 2,300,284 Gayer Oct. 27, 1942 (Other references on following page)5 UNITED STATES PATENTS 'Kenney Dec. 25, 1945 Johnson Jan. 28, 1947Fisher et a1 Apr. 10, 1951 Bourgeois Feb. 5, 1952 Le Bus Mar. 16, 1954Christian Apr. 9, 1957 A-udemar July 22, 1958 6 Egli Nov. 18, 1958Varadi Dec. 1, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Ian. 27, 1905Switzerland Aug. 16, 1924 Switzenland Dec. 1, 1950 Germany Feb. 4, 1926Germany Jan. 22, 1959

